Chef Jacob Sahaya Kumar

Chef Jacob Sahaya Kumar or Chef Jacob as he is called is a very well known person in Chennai or should I say 'Well known Chef' in Chennai.. He has become a well known TV personality after he started hosting Television cookery programs.

He was a gold medalist in Catering Technology & Hotel management (1993 – 1996) in SNR & sons college, Coimbatore affliated to Bharathiar university. He started his career as a management trainee at ITC Welcomgroup Park Sheraton, in Chennai ( 1996-1997) and later worked as a lecturer, in catering & hotel management with Karpagam Arts & Science College, Coimbatore for about 5 years till 2002. He joined Cherran’s Arts Science College at Kangayam as the Head of the Department of catering & hotel management for some time. Since may 2008 working as a Director of the catering & hotel management, Sankara college of Sciemce & Commerce, Coimbatore.

These are all his academic qualifications but he became known to all when he started with cookery shows in Sun TV. He started with Vanakkam Thamizhakam, hosting the cookery show for 2 years, then for Chutti TV he hosted cookery show for kids . Meanwhile he tried his hand at Radio Mirchi giving out recipes in the Radio FM also.

Chef Jacob has done many researches on lost and forgotten cuisines of south India such as Kongunadu cuisine, Nanjilnadu cuisine, ancient kingdoms’ food, authentic Chettinad Cuisine, Coastal cuisine of Tamilnad and Mangalorean food for which Chef Jacob received appreciation from our former president of India, Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam at Rashtrapathi Bhavan ( 23rd may, 2007)

At present Chef Jacob is producing and presenting a Travel cum Cookery Show in Sun TV named “Aaha Enna Rusi” which is telecast on Saturdays at 1 pm. He was also selected as most wanted chef in Chennai by Indian Express, INDULGE, Friday express supplement.

Ayyanaar at the Chennai Gate Hotel has opened last month opposite Egmore railway station and it will be a non veg specialty outlet. There you can taste authentic village food from across Tamil Nadu.

Chef Jacob has collected all these recipes by researching and trying them out in his kitchen for more than a month. The Signature item of the Ayyanar Restaurant will be 'Masthan Mutton Biryani', the recipe which he got from the villages in and around Keelakarai. You just have to taste it to learn the truth.